Positive Attitude + Proven Business Plan = Successful Franchise

by FBR ViewPoints

A custom window treatment franchise, Budget Blinds offers customers in-home consultations, a wide array of styles, and affordable prices for name brand products. he online show- room gives consumers the chance to browse styles and colors, while in-home consultants offer expert guidance and custom installation. Always on top of industry trends, Budget Blinds offers customers the latest tips, a free 20-page Design Guide, and a monthly E-newsletter. In business since 1992, Budget Blinds has grown from the five founders literally pounding the pavement to over 1,000 franchises worldwide. They offer franchisees national advertising campaigns, customizable marketing tools, solid training and on-going support. Their impressive growth and franchisee satisfaction prove that their formula works!

The CEO’s Perspective – Vision is Everything.

“Positive attitude is more than half the battle.” While Budget Blinds CEO Chad Hallock believes he can teach anyone the details of running a franchise, he emphasizes “attitude, attitude, attitude” as the element of success that cannot be taught. Having built Budget Blinds (along with his four partners) with just five thousand dollars in his pocket, Hallock knows the importance of positive attitude and perseverance. From the early days of literally running up and down the neighborhood streets of Orange County, CA distributing buyers, to the sale of the first Budget Blinds franchise in 1994, on through the 1,000th franchise mark, Hallock and partners believe “you start it and you make it happen.”

Hallock sets clear expectations for potential franchisees and the leadership works to articulate exactly what a franchisee is buying into; that it will be hard work and that they must be self-motivated. At the same time, each franchisee hears directly from Hallock about his vision for the company. In fact, Hallock feels “Vision is what drives the corporation. Knowing that the corporate once has a solid vision for marketing and company growth gives franchises the confidence that we are all invested in the same success.”

Franchisees Dene and Lisa Peachey – Finding the Right Plan

After 15 years in the radio business, Dene Peachey realized he and wife Lisa wanted to start a business without putting everything on the line to start from scratch. Searching for a solid business, Dene read through every page of 15- 20 UFOCs before hitting upon Budget Blinds and thinking, “Wow, this looks like a pretty good plan.” While Lisa admits to initial reluctance, by noon on Discovery Day she was sold, saying “the minute I met the five founders I instantly believed.” More than five years later Lisa asserts, “I believe it more now than I even believed it then. I was totally convinced that they wanted us to succeed as much as we wanted to succeed in a new business.” Dene admits that he has even called the corporate once on his cell phone from a customer’s driveway and someone was right there to answer his questions.

Today, they no longer need such intensive support and see Budget Blinds as their own business. Dove- tailing on Chad Hallock’s emphasis on positive attitude, Dene believes that as a business owner you can’t let fear stop you; if you hit a bump, you have to get motivated and work through it. The Peachey’s hard work and dedication coupled with Budget Blinds’ winning business plan has proved to truly be a recipe for success.